dispositional explanation

• adorno - individuals personality determines how obedient they are
• measured 2000 m/c white americans’ unconscious attitudes to other racial groups
• used the f scale to measure authoritarian personality
• concluded people with AP are:

  • driven by stereotypes and prejudice
  • show extreme respect to higher status people
  • highly obedient
  • conservative about race and gender
  • patronising to lower status people
• AP forms in childhood as a result of strict parenting - creates hostility and despair in children who can’t express their feelings in fear of punishment

  • emotions displaced onto the weak (scapegoatin)